Last updated: March 2026
What Are Training Packages?
Training packages are the backbone of Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system. They are nationally endorsed sets of standards and qualifications that define the skills and knowledge required to perform effectively in a specific industry or sector. Every Registered Training Organisation (RTO) in Australia delivers training and conducts assessment based on these packages.
Unlike curriculum-based education models, training packages are competency-based. This means they define what a learner must be able to do, but not how they must be taught. This gives RTOs flexibility to design training delivery that suits their learner cohort, while ensuring nationally consistent competency outcomes.
All training packages are published on training.gov.au (TGA), the official national register maintained by the Australian Government. RTOFlow integrates directly with training.gov.au to ensure all generated resources are aligned to the latest published requirements.
Structure of a Training Package
Units of Competency
Units of competency are the building blocks of training packages. Each unit specifies a discrete workplace task or function and includes elements of competency, performance criteria, knowledge evidence requirements, performance evidence requirements, and assessment conditions. Understanding unit structure is essential for creating compliant assessment tools and learning resources.
Qualifications
Qualifications group units of competency into structured combinations that represent the competencies required for a job role or occupational outcome. Each qualification specifies core units (mandatory for all learners) and elective units (allowing specialisation). Qualifications are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), ranging from Certificate I through to Graduate Diploma level.
You can explore qualifications and their packaging rules in the RTOFlow qualifications directory.
Assessment Requirements
Every unit of competency has accompanying assessment requirements that specify the performance evidence, knowledge evidence, and assessment conditions. These requirements are critical for RTOs designing assessment tools — your assessments must address every element specified. RTOFlow generates assessment instruments that are directly mapped to these requirements.
Companion Volumes
Companion volumes provide additional guidance for implementing the training package. They include implementation guides, knowledge base documents, and advice on contextualisation, assessment, and delivery. While not mandatory in themselves, they provide essential context for how units and qualifications should be interpreted.
How Training Packages Are Developed
Training packages are developed through a nationally managed process that involves industry, government, and the VET sector:
- Industry Reference Committees (IRCs): These committees comprise industry representatives who identify the skills needs for their sector. They provide the strategic direction for training package development and review.
- Skills Service Organisations (SSOs): SSOs provide technical writing and project management support to IRCs. They draft and revise training package components based on industry input and submit them for endorsement.
- Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC): The AISC (now replaced by Jobs and Skills Australia in some functions) reviews and endorses training package submissions for national implementation.
- State and Territory Training Authorities: These bodies manage state-level implementation and may impose additional requirements for funded training delivery.
Navigating Training Package Updates
Training packages are living documents. As industries evolve, technology changes, and regulatory requirements shift, packages are updated to reflect current practice. For RTOs, managing these updates is a critical compliance activity.
When a Training Package Is Updated
- New or revised units of competency may be released, replacing superseded versions
- Qualification packaging rules may change, altering core and elective combinations
- Assessment requirements may be updated to reflect new industry practices
- Teach-out periods are defined, typically giving RTOs 12 months to transition enrolled learners to the new version
- RTOs must update their training and assessment strategies, resources, and assessment tools to align with the new requirements
RTOFlow monitors training.gov.au for package updates and alerts you when units on your scope have been revised or superseded. You can then regenerate resources for the new versions with minimal effort, ensuring your training materials stay current without manual rewriting.
Training Package Codes Explained
Every training package component follows a standard coding system:
| Component | Code Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Training Package | 2-3 letter code | BSB (Business Services) |
| Qualification | Package + AQF level + sequence | BSB50120 (Diploma of Business) |
| Unit of Competency | Package + stream + sequence | BSBSTR502 (Facilitate innovation) |
| Skill Set | Package + SS + sequence | BSBSS00120 (Leadership skill set) |
Understanding these codes helps you navigate training.gov.au and communicate effectively about specific components. Browse the full list in our training packages directory.
How RTOFlow Works with Training Packages
RTOFlow connects directly to training.gov.au's API to import the latest unit and qualification data for your RTO's scope of registration. This means every document generated by RTOFlow is built from the authoritative source data — performance criteria, knowledge evidence, performance evidence, assessment conditions, and foundation skills are all sourced directly from TGA.
When you set up a stream in RTOFlow, the platform analyses the relevant training package context, industry terminology, and AQF level requirements to produce contextualised learning resources and assessment tools that are both compliant and industry-relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a training package in Australia?
A training package is a nationally endorsed set of standards and qualifications used to recognise and assess people's skills in a specific industry or sector. Each package contains units of competency, qualifications, assessment requirements, and companion volumes. They are developed by Industry Reference Committees and published on training.gov.au.
How often are training packages updated?
Training packages are updated on a continuous improvement basis. Industry Reference Committees review packages based on industry needs, technological changes, and regulatory requirements. Updates can range from minor component changes to complete package revisions. RTOs are required to transition to updated packages within a defined teach-out period, typically 12 months.
What is the difference between a unit and a qualification?
A unit of competency defines the skills and knowledge required to perform a specific work task or function. A qualification is a structured combination of units (core and elective) that represents the competencies needed for a particular job role. Qualifications are aligned to levels on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), from Certificate I through to Graduate Diploma.
Where can I find training package information?
All training packages, units of competency, and qualifications are published on training.gov.au (TGA), the official national register for VET in Australia. RTOFlow integrates directly with training.gov.au to import unit data, packaging rules, and competency requirements for automated resource generation.